[gothic-l] The Eighteenth Gothic-Roman War 408-410 AD

[Bertil Haggman]

With best wishes of a Prosperous 2002 I am
providing a few glimpses of the beginning of the momentous
final deathstruggle of the West Roman empire at the hands
of the Goths and allied Germanic peoples.

Stilicho was assassinated in 407 AD. He had been the final
strongman of the empire in the west but was actually
assassinated because it was claimed he had a secret
treaty with Alarich, king of Goths. The latter used the
situation and Gothic troops marched into Italy. Stilicho the
Vandal's Germanic troops defected to Alarich. The Goths
moved through Venetia and Umbria to the gates of Rome,
where a siege started. The city of Rome managed to
avoid capture by paying the Goths in cash. The armies of
Alarich were moved to Etruria. Negotiations failed and fresh
Gothic troops arrived under Alarich's brother-in-law Athawulf.
The two armies captured Rome in 410 AD and Alarich placed
Attalus on the West Roman throne. It is said that the Gothic armies
plundered Rome for six days.

Alarich later moved south to invade Sicily and Africa but the invasion
fleet was stopped by rough weather. Then Alarich died near Consentia.
Athawulf was elected new king. He married Galla Placidia, sister of
Emperor Honorius, and was given the title of Magister militum of the
West Roman empire.

But a new threat to Goths and Roman is only a few decades away:
Attila the Hun.

Gothically

Bertil



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